Study links fall in job vacancies to uncertainty over forthcoming EU referendum

The recovery in the jobs market has slowed "significantly" amid uncertainty about the impending EU referendum, according to a new study.

Jobs site Adzuna said vacancies had dropped in the last three months, especially in travel, manufacturing and retail firms.

The South East and Northern Ireland suffered the biggest fall in advertised vacancies in this period.

Adzuna said there were 1.1 million jobs advertised last month, around 10% fewer than last November.

A potential Brexit, and the new national living wage, which comes into effect on Friday, were creating an "unpredictable" feeling among employers.

Doug Monro of Adzuna said: "There are signs that caution is controlling the current UK jobs market and stalling the recovery. One possible explanation is that uncertainty around Brexit means hiring intentions have been paused.

"After a strong hiring outlook in the latter months of last year, it's possible that attitudes to recruitment have begun to alter of late.

"Companies seem to be holding off on expanding their staff, instead preferring to sit tight and wait out the political bumps of the next couple of months.

"For jobseekers, this means fewer available positions and fewer choices are on offer."